Cultural diversity
Ancestry
About this topic
Ancestry describes a person's cultural association and ethnic background, and Census respondents can report more than one ancestry. It is a broader cultural measure than country of birth because it can reflect family heritage across generations.
This topic helps show the size and diversity of cultural groups in an area, including groups whose members were born in Australia. Because multiple ancestries can be reported, ancestry totals can exceed the total population, so it is best read with birthplace, language used at home, and religion.
Interpretation notes
- People can report up to two ancestries, so category totals represent responses rather than a single unduplicated person count.
- ABS advises that ancestry is best used with birthplace and language, because ancestry alone is a broad measure of ethnicity and cultural background.
- The 2021 form added separate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mark boxes, so those categories need caution in over-time comparison.
Key insight
In 2021, the largest ancestry groups among residents in Burra (SA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Burra (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Burra (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Goyder (DC) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Burra (SA), with comparison markers for Goyder (DC).
English
2021 count
491
% of total
44.2%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
491
44.2%
+1.0pp
Australian
2021 count
451
% of total
40.6%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
451
40.6%
-3.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
116
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
116
10.4%
+1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
108
% of total
9.7%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
108
9.7%
-0.7pp
German
2021 count
104
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
104
9.4%
+1.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
21
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-
21
1.9%
-
Dutch
2021 count
18
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
18
1.6%
+0.6pp
Welsh
2021 count
11
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
11
1.0%
-0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
10
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
10
0.9%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+15
+1.0pp
Australian
-33
-3.3pp
Scottish
+17
+1.4pp
Irish
-7
-0.7pp
German
+17
+1.5pp
Dutch
+7
+0.6pp
Welsh
-1
-0.1pp
Polish
+6
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Burra (SA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Goyder (DC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Goyder (DC)% | Count | % | Goyder (DC)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 491 | 44.2% | 41.2% | 476 | 43.2% | 40.5% | +15 | +1.0pp |
| Australian | 451 | 40.6% | 40.6% | 484 | 43.9% | 41.0% | -33 | -3.3pp |
| Scottish | 116 | 10.4% | 8.7% | 99 | 9.0% | 8.0% | +17 | +1.4pp |
| Irish | 108 | 9.7% | 9.2% | 115 | 10.4% | 9.1% | -7 | -0.7pp |
| German | 104 | 9.4% | 17.5% | 87 | 7.9% | 17.4% | +17 | +1.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 21 | 1.9% | 2.2% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Dutch | 18 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 11 | 1.0% | 1.1% | +7 | +0.6pp |
| Welsh | 11 | 1.0% | 0.6% | 12 | 1.1% | 0.7% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Polish | 10 | 0.9% | 0.6% | 4 | 0.4% | 0.7% | +6 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).